Rotary wheel ditching machine



June 1, 1954 w. A. BOREL ROTARY WHEEL DITCHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 27, 1950 r S a W w, I m n B U i wm n r I I I I I l I I I l I I I I I UVJKIIIHIII l u uw nfl n uu umu u Jw J M A m \l I u m m R WI W w W Fm. WN\ mmmrm m m :w m B June 1, 1954 w. A. BOREL 2,679,703

ROTARY WHEEL DITCHING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I! yen to r Walter A. Bore/ J1me 1954 w. A. BOREL ROTARY WHEEL DITCHING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed NOV. 2'7, 1950 I u ventar Wa/rerA. Bare! Patented June 1, 1954 UNITED ROTKRY'WHEEE 'DITCHING' MACHINE WalteraA. Bnrel, New:: Iberia,La.

Application November 27, 1950,Serial.N"or19?;807"

2 Claims (01. 37-92) The. present invention relates to'new' improvements in ditching machines, and more particu-' larly to the type of ditching machine which-may be ,manually manipulated to dig "ditches:-

An object of the present invention is to provide a novel ditching machine wherein'rotary" without digging or may remain stationary while digging at a selected spot.

A still further-object of the presentinvention resides in the provision of a novel guard plate whereby the dirt discharged from the-:rotary blades will be diverted from the driving means and will be directed to one side of-themachines Another object of the present invention residesin the provision of a novel guide-means whereby th ditch will be dug along -a--substantially straight line.

Still another object of the present-invention -re-- sides in the provision of a novel resilient-mounting means at the rear end of the frame ofthe machine whereby the forward end maybe re-- siliently raised or lowered by manipulation of the handles of the frame.

A still further object-of the present invention resides in the provision ofnovel adjustablesupporting Wheels and adjustable caster Wheels, the firstmentioned supporting wheels being provided for use while transporting the ditching machinefrom'one place to another when not ditching, and also to ride along the surface of the ground adjacent to the ditch-while ditching, while the second pair of wheels, the caster wheels, are provided for running along the bottom of the ditch for supporting the forward end andaiding in the determination of the depth of the ditch.

Various-other objects'and advantages will'become apparent-fromthe detailed description to follow. The best form in which I have contem plated applying my invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 Ba side elevational view oithe-ditch ing machine while digging a ditcm Fig.2 is a frontelevational view ofl i'guredf Figure 3 is a rear elevati'onalview of Figured; Figure 4 is a top plan view of the forward-por tion'of the ditching machine;

Figure 5 is-a side elevational viewofa portion of the machine adjacent theforward'end'show ing the ditchingmeans and the" drive pulley ar rangementtherefor;

Figure 6 is a detail sectional view of the clutch means employed in connection with tlie pres'ent invention; and e 1 Figure? is-a side elevational view-of the-en tire machine when being transported-'fmmone place to another Referring mor particularly to the drawingsy wherein like numerals designate like parts throughout, theditchingmachine of the present invention comprises i a frame designatedby the numeral l2. Th numeral-14 designates general- 1y an internal combustion engine mounte'd 'on the: frame means 12 and providingacommon sourceof power for driving the--machine.-- The ditchingmachine alsocomprises a resilient maunting means for the rear endof: the frame- 12 designa-ted'by the numeral 16, a transverse driving traction roller means i 8 intermediate the ends of the frame 12 supporting wheels-n imfrontfiofi said'roller-means l8; casterwvheels in front of wheels for the forwardend or: the. frame I 2' as at 22, a ditching means24 in front of the caster: wheels 22, and: a guard means :2 62l for the: ditch-c ing means 24 located above thesamea:

The frame l2 comprises-a minor-longitudinally; extending angle irons28: and 30 which are joined at their rear'ends by'a transversely extendingbar:

32-. A pair of angulated bars'M- and" 35,:respece; tively, extend upwardly and rearwardly from the forward ends of the angle irons zfl and 3llianduarer joined adjacent their rear ends-by meansiofthe' angle iron :36 which is disposed substantiallyl'in; parallelrelation to the bar. 32 and. lies in the: same vertical planeas the bar 32. The outer ends. of the bars 34' and -are'angulatedat14l) and-s42 to provide handles.

The resilient mounting-means lfifor supporte ing the rear end of the .frame 12: 'comprisesua: standard 44- which" is reciprocably disposed through a pairofsleevesAS and da the sleeve 46: being integrally secured to'the angle ironfis while the sleeve 48 is integrally:formedvwith..therbar 32 in axial alignment with. the sleeve 45.1. The standard 44- is' provided. with: an annular ring: 5ll= disposed below the" sleeveanda ooilsspring encircles-the standard 44 and: has one end abut-z ting thering 50 wh-ile -th' tothera endzsablitssthei 1y beveled friction clutch disks 62, 6I are pro-' vided each having a beveled recess 64, 63 respectively.

At the forward end of the frame I2 .a support-' ing plate 66 is provided which is substantially of inverted U-shape in cross-section with the end portions thereof angulated for engagement with t e upper surfaces of the angle irons 28 and 36 whereby theplate 66 may be secured thereto, providing a supporting means for the bearing 68. A shaft 16 having a pulley 12 secured thereto is mounted for rotative and reciprocal movement in the bearing 68 and is in axial alignment with the shaft 66. As seen best in Figure 6 again, the shaft 16 is provided with a clutch disk 14 at the end adjacent to the shaft 66, the clutch disk 14 having a beveled surface 16 for engagement with the beveled surface of the recess 64. The shaft 16 has a reduced diameter portion 18 which is received in a recess 16 in the end of the shaft 66 whereby the two shafts may be maintained in alignment, facilitating engagement and disengagement of the two clutch elements.

The clutch disk 14 is keyed, as at 16, to the shaft 16 and is adapted to reciprocate thereon for engagement with the clutch element 62. The clutch disk 14 has an elongated sleeve 86 extending rearwardly therefrom and terminating in a disk 82 having a recess 84 of annular form. A ring 86 is received around the disk 82 and has radial projections 88 received in the annular recess 84 whereby longitudinal movement of the ring 86 will effect longitudnial movement of the clutch disk 14 into and out of engagement with the clutch element 62.

The ring 86 is integrally formed with a downwardly extending lever 96 which is pivotally mounted, as seen at 9i, on the upper end of a bar 92 upstanding from and secured to the angle iron 94, the angle iron 94 being mounted on the frame I2 and extending transversely thereof. The upper end of the ring 86 is connected to the shaft 66 which is in turn pivotally connected, as at 61, to the rearwardly extending bar 98 terminating in the handle I66. An upstanding bracket element I62 on the rods 34, 35 and provided with an eyelet I64 at its upper end reciprocably maintains the bar 68 in supported relation with respect to the handle rods 34 and 36. Keeping in mind the loose connection between the ring 86 and its radial projections 86 and, the recess 64, it will readily be seen that reciprocation of the handle I66 will effect longitudinal movement of the clutch disk 14 into and out of engagement with the recess 64 for conveying rotary movement from the drive shaft 66 to the shaft 16 and pulley sheave 12 secured thereto.

As seen best in Figure 5, a plate I66 connects the angle irons 28 and 36 at the front ends thereof and a pair of bearing brackets I68 and H6 are secured to the under side of the plate I66 by. means of the bolts II2. A stub shaft H4 is rotatably disposed longitudinally of the frame I2 in 4 the bearing elements 168 and H6 and has a pulley sheave H6 secured to its inner end and lying in the same plane as the pulley sheave 12. A belt I I8 extends over the pair of pulley sheaves 12 and H6 for conveying rotary movement from the shaft 16 to the shaft I 14.

The outer end of the shaft II4 has a substantially circular disk I26 secured thereon by means of the nuts I22. The plate I26 is provided with a plurality of arcuately contoured'blades I24 which effect the ditching operation.

The caster wheels 22 are disposed on opposite sides of the forward end of the frame I2. Attachingbars I26 for the caster wheels 22 are provided with vertically extending elongated slots I28. Securing bolts I36 extend outwardly from the angle irons 28 and 36 and are received in the slots I28. Nuts I32 are received on the bolts I36 for adjustably securing the caster wheels 22 in desired vertical relation to the frame.

The guard plate means 26 comprises an enlarged sheet metal plate I34 which is secured to the transversely extending bar I66 at the forward end of the frame. The upper end of the plate I34 is provided with a horizontally extending deflecting plate I36 to deflect the dirt. An extension I38 of the plate I34 which has its uppermost edge in angular relation to the upper edge of the plate I34 is similarly formed with a deflecting plate I46 which is in angular relation to the plate I36 to deflect the dirt from the frame and driving means of the ditching machine.

The supporting caster wheels 26 are of substantially conventional form, and are disposed on Opposite sides of the frame I2. The upstanding shanks I4I of the wheels 26 are rotatably received in the bearing brackets I42 which have inwardly extending bars I44 terminating in downwardly extending attaching elements I46. The attaching elements I46 are provided with elongated slots, as shown at I41 in Figure 1, whereby they may be adjustably secured to the angle irons 28 and 36 by means of the bolts I48 for vertical adjustment of said caster wheels 26.

Centrally disposed on the under side of the frame I2 is the driving roller I8 which is mounted on a pair of supporting bearings I56 which are secured to the under side of the angle ironsl52 and I54, which are in turn welded to the angle irons 28 and 36 respectively. The roller I8 is of heavy construction and is provided with ridges I56 on its outer surface for engagement with the surface of the ground to effect forward movement of the frame and ditching means when driven by the means now to be described.

As seen best in Figure 1, a gear box I58 is supported on the frame I2 and pulleys I66 and I62 connected by the belt I64 transfer power through a shaft I61, like the shaft 16, from the shaft 56 to the shaft I66 of the gear box I58. 'The gear box I58 is provided with a gear shift I68 and a pulley I16 at one side for driving the belt I12 and the pulley I14 of, the roller means I8. It should be noted here that means are provided for engaging and disengagin the clutch disk 14' on the shaft I61, with respect to the clutch disk 6i, the means being similar in construction to that shown in Figure 6 and hereinabove described. A lever I16 is provided for reciprocating the ring 66 correspondin to ring 66 for longitudinally moving the shaft IBI and clutch disk 14 into and out of engagement with the recess 63 in the clutch element fil, whereby movement may be selectively imparted to the gear box I58 and'driving roller I8 when desiredin a manner similar tothat used:

for imparting movement to the ditchin machine.

Adjacent the forward end of the frame [2 is a guide means I 80 which has its upstanding portion E82 secured to and depending from the bar 94. Guide means I39 includes a longitudinally extending angulated blade portion I 84 in axial alignment with the ditching machine which is provided with a sharp edge blade I86 for engagement with the bottom of the ditch to provide substantially straight movement of the ditching machine.

From the foregoing description, taken in conjunction with the drawings, it is believed that the operation of the present invention will be readily obvious to one skilled in the art. When it is desired to operate either the drivin roller means [8 or the ditching means 24, or both, the clutches are engaged and disengaged as desired by means of the levers I00 and H6. The forward speed of the machine may be controlled by the gear shift lever i68. When it is desired to dig a ditch, the supporting wheels 20 are raised for engagement with the supporting surface adjacent to the ditch to be dug. In other words, the supporting wheels 20 are fixed in raised relation to the driving roller is, as will be readily apparent. Next, the wheels 22 are adjusted for engagement with the ground and to give the proper angular relation of the frame I? with respect to the ground so that the cutting means or digging means 24 will engage the ground to dig the ditch. By manipulation of the handles 40 and 42 upwardly or downwardly, the machine may be tilted vertically about the axis of the driving roller [8 so that the forward end of the frame l2 may be raised or lowered, thus riding the ditching machine out of the ditch and back to digging when desired with the coil spring 52 assisting in lowerin said forward end. When it is desired to transport the ditchin machine, the supporting wheels 20 are lowered to the position shown in Figure 7 so that the entire machine will be supported by the wheels 20, the driving roller l8 and the rollers 54.

Having thus described my invention, what is claimed to be new is:

1. A ditching machine comprising a frame having front and rear ends, a ground engaging traction roller supporting said frame intermediate its ends for vertical tilting of the frame about the axis of the roller to raise and lower the front end of the frame, handles extending rearwardly from said frame for tilting the same, a rotary ditch digging element mounted on the front end of the frame in the lon itudinal axis of the frame for lowering and raising into and from diggin position by raising and lowering of said front end of the frame, a first pair of caster wheels depending from said frame between said element and roller and upon opposite sides of the axis of rotation of said element for traveling in the ditch to determine the depth to which said element shall dig, a second pair of caster wheels mounted on opposite sides of said frame in advance of said roller and vertically adjustable to maintain said front end of the frame tilted upwardly sufficiently to raise said element and first pair of caster wheels above the ground into idle position, and means for driving said roller and element.

2. A ditch digging machine according to claim 1, said second pair of caster wheels being spaced apart a greater distance than the width of the ditch du by said element for adjustment into engagement with the surface of the ground at opposite sides of the ditch to maintain said front end tilted upwardly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,155,975 Van Antwerp -1 Oct. 5, 1915 1,424,878 Canfield Aug. 8, 1922 1,577,561 Chiles Mar. 23, 1926 1,633,850 Donald June 28, 1927 2,15 ,840 Drake Apr. 4, 1939 2,168,866 Gehl Aug. 8, 1939 2,315,007 Morse et a1 Mar. 30, 1943 2,408,459 Tuttle Oct. 1, 1946 2,437,059 Williams Mar. 2, 1948 

